Health Care Systems Administration (HCSA)

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Health Care Systems Administration HCSA

College(s): College of Health Professions

Required Courses		Credit Hours
Professional Requirements	56 credits required
CAHS 300	Health Information Systems	3
HCSA 120	Health Services Administration	3
HCSA 202	Health Care Law 1	3
MRIS 209	Quality Mgmt in Health Care	3
HCSA 210	Health Care Finance 1	3
HCSA 310	Health Care Finance 2	3
HCSA 336	Health Care Supervisory Pract	4
HCSA 345	Internship Orientation	1
HCSA 392	Hospital Internship	6
Choose one of the following:
HCSA 225	International Health Care	3
HCSA 326	Health Care Personnel Practice	3
or
HCSA 402	Health Care Law 2	3
HCSA 410	Health Care Finance 3	4
HCSA 460	Principles of Long Term Care	3
HCSA 474	Health Care Strategic Applicat	4
HCSA 475	Practice Mgmt in Health Care	3
HCSA 493	Management Internship	10
Professional Support Requirements	11 credits required
*ISYS 105	or competency	3
ISYS 200	Database Design-Implementation	3
ACCT 201	Principles of Accounting 1	3
CAHS 317	Public Health Administration	2
ENGL 321	Advanced Composition	3
or
ENGL 323	Proposal Writing	3
Core Requirements	11 credits required
CCHS 101	Orientation-Health Care	3
CCHS 102	Safety Issues-Health Care	1
CCHS 315	Epidemiology - Statistics	3
MRIS 103	Medical Terminology	4
Communication Competence	12 credits required
*Communication	Select one of the following: COMM 105, 121, 200, 201, 221, 251	3
ENGL 150	English 1	3
ENGL 250	English 2	3
ENGL 311	Advanced Technical Writing	3
or
ENGL 325	Advanced Business Writing	3
Scientific Understanding	7 - 8 credits required
BIOL 109	Basic Human Anatomy-Physiology	4
Select one course from the General Education Scientific Understanding List		3 - 4
Quantitative Skills	3 credits required
MATH 115	with grade of C- or better, or ACT Math subscore of 24
Social Awareness	9 credits required
*	Select three courses from the General Education Social Awareness list. Courses must be in at least two different subject areas.
Social Awareness Foundation Course		3
Social Awareness Elective		3
Social Awareness Elective 200 level or higher		3
Cultural Enrichment	9 credits required
*	Select three courses from the General Education Cultural Enrichment List.
*	No more than 5 credit hours in music or theater activities courses.
Cultural Enrichment Elective		3
Cultural Enrichment Elective		3
Cultural Enrichment Elective 200 level or higher		3
Electives	6 - 7 credits required - related electives are met for dual enrolled students with their clinical courses.
Credit hours required for graduation:		121 - 124

Why Choose Health Care Systems Administration?

As the health care industry continues to grow and expand, the demand for skilled health care managers also increases. Employment is expected to grow faster than average with the fastest growth in home health agencies, residential care facilities and practitioners' offices and clinics. This program has been designed in two formats, one for students who enter the program either as freshmen or who transfer into the program after having completed an associate degree and the second for students who wish to complete a bachelor's degree while enrolled in a clinical associate degree program.

The course work, which includes courses in management, marketing, accounting, quality assurance, health care finance, health care planning and long-term care management prepares you to work in many areas in health-care. Graduates are able to apply for an entry level administration position or enter graduate school to earn a master's degree.

The Health Care Systems Administration program also is offered in Grand Rapids. In the Grand Rapids program, the professional courses are offered in the evenings. General education requirements may be taken at a local college or university and transferred to fulfill Ferris graduation requirements. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours must be earned at Ferris in order for the degree to be granted.

Get a Great Job

The term 'health services manager' encompasses individuals in many different positions who plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care. Health services managers include both generalists (administrators who manage or help to manage an entire facility or system), and health specialists (managers in charge of specific departments or services found only in the health care industry).

Earnings of health services managers vary by type and size of facility, level of responsibility and geographic region. The May 2010 Occupational Employment and Wages Report distributed by the U.S. Department of Labor provides the following:

General medical and surgical hospitals: $99,570

Home health care services: $84,710

Nursing care facilities: $79,010

Offices of physicians: $91,820

Outpatient care centers: $89,200

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the Health Care Systems Administration program must have a 2.5 GPA in high school or college work and one year of high school algebra with a 'C-' or better. Students can enter the program from any associate degree program or directly from high school.

Graduation Requirements

The Health Care Systems Administration program at Ferris leads to a bachelor of science degree. Graduation requires a minimum 2.0 GPA overall. Students must earn a 'C' or better in professional (HCSA) courses, many of the professional support, and core courses. Students must meet all general education requirements as outlined on the General Education website. Also, students must either have an ACT math subscore of 24 or better, complete MATH 115 or pass a proficiency exam.

More Information

College of Health Professions
Ferris State University
200 Ferris Drive
Big Rapids, MI 49307-2740
or call 1-800-462-8553, ext. 2266